Debate is closer this time around

President Bush did better this time around — but Sen. John Kerry still won the second presidential debate Friday night, according to two of Utah's university debate coaches.

"I think this one's a lot closer than the last one," said Dan Lair, debate coach at the University of Utah. "But Kerry's still the winner."

Tom Worthen, debate coach at Utah State University, agreed.

"Overall, I'd give it to Kerry," he said.

Partisan Utah observers, meanwhile, gave nods to their favorite candidate.

Lair said Kerry, D-Mass., did a good job on the second debate but fell short of the superb performance of the first debate.

"The president did better in the first 15 minutes and then fell off," he said, noting that Kerry also gave more detailed and in-depth answers. Bush also lost his composure at times, while Kerry did not, he said.

Worthen said the Iraq questions raised during the town hall-style debate put the president in an "assertive defensiveness." He said Bush won the segment on health care but little else.

"He got emotional and jumped on the moderator," Worthen said of Bush. "He did calm down by the end of the debate."

Lair said Kerry dodged some questions but did not get flustered.

Kerry's tactic of name-dropping also helped him establish more credibility, Worthen believes.

"Bush was totally unaware of his time," Lair said. "He gave short, underdeveloped answers."

Worthen feels Kerry said a lot of what people wanted to hear, and he believes anyone who logically analyzed some of Kerry's positions would find inconsistencies in his plan to increase funding in key areas while saying he will not raise taxes.

Both debate coaches consider themselves independents in this presidential race.

How did the candidates do from a communications/visual standpoint in this debate?

Allison Barlow Hess, professor of communications at Weber State University, who worked at KSL-TV for 11 years, felt both of the candidates looked better in the town hall format compared to the first encounter, in which they stood behind podiums. Real questions from real people were a plus, she said.

"They were more relaxed and interacted with the audience," Hess said.

Although she's certain Bush has had a great deal of instruction since his first debate, there were still times when he couldn't help himself from getting a little angry, she said.

"But he did better. He looked dignified and statesmanly," Hess said. "Sen. Kerry looked quite presidential."

She thinks undecided voters may be swayed by Kerry's look and composure.

Hess said she is a Kerry supporter.

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, issued a statement after the debate saying he believes Bush is still the best choice.